LI eatery throwing New Year's Eve bash

Gotta work New Year's Eve? There's a place for you Wednesday night, at a Jericho restaurant, Philippe by Philippe Chow.

Owner Stratis Morfogen is hosting a New Year's Eve party for those who typically have to work that night -- nurses, firefighters, police officers, some municipal employees, restaurant and entertainment workers, and anyone who has a Grinch for a boss who won't allow his or her employees to take the night off.

Morfogen said Chow will offer an open bar from 8 to 9 p.m. and a free champagne toast at midnight. He sent out emails to about 100,000 people, he said, and is expecting 200 to 300 to show up.

"We're not going to sit here and ask for credentials" to prove that someone has to work New Year's Eve, Morfogen said. "It's just a nice thing to give back."

Reno Christou, the restaurant's general manager, said the establishment threw a similar party the Wednesday before Christmas Eve. "We filled up the room," Christou said. "We want to ride the momentum of that."